Photos of the Month — Sept. 2019

Southeast Missourian photography staff

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Both in times of joy and in times of heartache, Southeast Missourian photojournalists strive to visually tell the stories of those in our communities. Here’s a look at some of the photography staff’s best journalism from Sept. 2019.

A Monday marked 16 years since the birth of Madison Robinson; the Tuesday was her funeral. Robinson died after being shot Aug. 24 on the front porch of her Cape Girardeau home. Scores turned out for Robinson's visitation and funeral Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, at Mercy Seat Missionary Baptist Church in Charleston, Missouri. "I'll have people remember this day, today, that a 15-year-old girl is dead in our community," Robinson's cousin Alex Gilbert said. "If you want to remember her, remember her as somebody that shouldn't have died because of the gun violence." Pictured from left: Sunnyboy Mims, 7, and Randi Jones, 9, cousins of Robinson; and Misty Robinson, aunt of Madison, mourn with Madison's mother Martez Johnson, with head bowed, during Madison's services.
(Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Raymond Ziegert adjusts the order of pool balls in a rack before beginning a game Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019, at M & J's pool hall and buy-and-sell in Marble Hill, Missouri. This image and accompanying story were part of the first installment of the ongoing photo feature series titled "Rural Routes." These stories focus on the lives of everyday people in Southeast Missouri. The series is scheduled to appear on Mondays in the Southeast Missourian.
(Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Members of Scott City's offensive line are backlit by a red sunset between plays during a game against the St. Vincent Indians on Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at Scott City High School in Scott City.
(Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Sitting together in middle seats wearing blue, Gage Hutson, 7, and Sadie Hutson, 6, both of Sikeston, Missouri, ride the "Jumpin' Star" with other children during the first day of the 2019 SEMO District Fair on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau.
(Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

After running into a transparent funhouse wall, 3-year-old Lillian Prasun of Cape Girardeau continues in her attempts to navigate the mirror maze with her mother Hannah Wiggs on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019, during the SEMO District Fair at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau.
(Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

A helper is silhouetted through an American flag while assisting in assembling the Avenue of Flags for Patriot Day on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019, at Cape Girardeau County Park North in Cape Girardeau.
(Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Cousins Conner Wayon Rhodes, 11, left, and Elijah Whitener, 12, are seen while watching other children show sheep Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019, at the SEMO District Fairgrounds in Cape Girardeau. Rhodes and Whitener, both of Marquand, Missouri, had shortly before been named champion and reserve champion, respectively, for showing sheep of their own.
(Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Izobel Hager tries to wipe her steer-snot-covered hand on Clayton Birk while the two hung out between competition events in a stable Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019, at the SEMO District Fairgrounds in Cape Girardeau.
(Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Jefferson Elementary School principal Leigh Ragsdale and fourth grader Ivyana Myers share a hug after going down the runway during a school fashion show Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, at the school in Cape Girardeau. Ragsdale said some of Jefferson's students "love fashion so much" and many Jefferson teachers are "inspired by fashion." "Why not bring that to light and create a fashion show and an experience that they'll remember?" she said.
(Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Joan McPherson looks around a garage at a lifetime of accumulated auto and service station memorabilia, most of which was collected by her late husband, Wayne, who died last year after a years-long battle with leukemia, on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, at the McPherson's home in Cape Girardeau.
(Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Brayden Strange, Cape Central junior, jumps and screams in support of the Tigers during a rivalry matchup between Jackson and Cape Central on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, at Jackson High School in Jackson.
(Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Cody Brockman holds his 5-month-old son, Parker, who wears earmuffs against the loud atmosphere during a rivalry matchup between Jackson and Cape Central on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, at Jackson High School in Jackson.
(Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Third-grader Aubrie Robinson, center right, peers around a corner as she leads Shirley Aufdenberg on a tour of the newly improved West Lane Elementary during a community open house Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, in Jackson.
(Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Longtime editor of the Southeast Missourian Bob Miller peeks over a card to the camera shortly before delivering informal remarks at a going-away celebration Sept. 19, 2019, at Top of the Marq restaurant in downtown Cape Girardeau.
(Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Billie Criddle, 88, of Oak Ridge, Missouri, tends to morning yard work Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, outside her home in Oak Ridge. Criddle was about 9 or 10 when she met her eventual husband in a one-room country school near Oak Ridge. That was Charles William Criddle, although Billie said people called him Bill. "It wasn't all roses," she said of what became a 70-year marriage. "I don't think I'd change anything." Billie and Bill's story was the subject of the third installment of the ongoing photo feature series titled "Rural Routes."
(Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Jackson Indians take the field before the start of their matchup against the Sikeston Bulldogs on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, in Jackson. Jackson defeated Sikeston 53-0.
(Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Students Adam Smith, left, Landon Drum, center, and Brendan Beasley, right, wait with other students in USA-themed garb during a prolonged rain delay before a game against Farmington on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, at the Cape Central High School in Cape Girardeau.
(Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Cape Central's Anthony Robinson takes a quiet moment in the locker room during halftime of a game against Farmington Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, at the Cape Central High School in Cape Girardeau.
(Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Cape Girardeau County conservation agent Ben Stratton speaks with Cooper Ashby, 7, of Jackson, while taking a ride on the Mississippi River as part of the Day on the River event Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, on the river near Cape Girardeau.
(Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

A custom-painted "ratbike" is seen parked near a Missouri State Highway Patrol vehicle during the first-ever Missouri Vietnam Wall Run on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, at the Missouri's National Veterans Memorial in Perryville, Missouri.
Members of the highway patrol escorted riders to the memorial.
(Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

California resident Paul Giboney, center left, and Virginia resident Eric Giboney step through the doorway of Old McKendree Chapel in Jackson on Sept. 22, 2019, after attending a worship service to conclude the church's bicentennial celebration. The Giboneys are descendants of James Giboney, one of the original members of Old McKendree Chapel who worked as a carpenter and assisted in the chapel's construction.
(Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

A group of Cardinal's guardsmen engage in combat during a dress rehearsal of "The Three Musketeers" on Sept. 23, 2019, at Southeast Missouri State University's Bedell Performance Hall at the River Campus in Cape Girardeau.
(Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Richard Baker leans on the hood of a 66 Ford pickup, one of half-a-dozen antique automobiles he tinkers with in his spare time Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019, in a barn on his land near Scopus, Missouri. Baker, who has battled cancer for a decade despite an early prognosis of only four or five years, said he now takes it easy, leases his land for farming and occupies his time with a variety of projects, mostly fixing cars or lawn mowers for family members.
"I do what I can now; usually take a few hours off for lunch," he said. "Today's been a pretty good day -- I haven't felt so bad today." Baker was the subject of the fourth installment of the ongoing photo feature series titled "Rural Routes."
(Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Laurie Mitchell said she refuses to let her son's death be one people forget. "It has to stop," Mitchell, mother of 24-year-old shooting victim Marcus Dixon Jr., said. "I feel like I have to be the one to step up and make a change and make a difference." On Sept. 28, Mitchell and other family and friends of Dixon marched as part of a "Stop the Violence" march in the Sikeston American Legion Cotton Carnival parade in Sikeston. After the march, some of its participants placed march signs at a memorial for Dixon a few feet from the site on the street where Mitchell said she found him dead after being shot seven times on the night of Feb. 18. Pictured: Dixon's family from left: cousin Johnnyla Jones, 8; cousin Bryce Brown, 3; cousin Destiny Brown, 11; cousin Ajaevia Mitchell, 12; stepson Naquavion Allen, 9; and son Kayden Dixon, 2; place signs, used in a "Stop the Violence" march earlier in the day, at a memorial for Dixon on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Sikeston, Missouri.
(Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Jeremy Green, left, helps bag a catfish caught by Lanie Mills, 2, bottom right, as she crouches next to her brother, Ryley Mills, 3, during the third annual Fishing Rodeo hosted by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 51 on Sept. 29, 2019, at Cape County Park North in Cape Girardeau. The 6.49 pound catfish was the largest catch of the event.
(Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)